Crazy couple of weeks

First we finished the first 8 weeks of our training-- the ones that were not specific to the system we were gonna be working with but common for all the new operators. We learned about the MCC computer systems and all the different programs and tools available. We got an overview of all the station systems so we know how all the systems interact at a basic level. And we had command training. It used to be many many long pages of information you read on your own but they condensed it into 2 weeks of quick classroom lessons. And then at the end of that is an oral exam. And when you pass that, youre officially allowed to send commands to the station. Although what commands to send takes alot more training. Anyways, I got command certified on Friday... which I was nervous but it went ok and now I've passed. Its my first certification, so I'm happy.
And we've had the shuttle at the station so lots of opportunities to shadow on console (we call it ojt). We were asked to do at least 4 so I've so far done 3 and my last is tomorrow morning (6am-1pm). Its been cool I've seen 3 EVAs- space walks fixing things outside the station and some other cool learning stuff- how they handle a problem, how they have to evaluate what to do to fit inside the flight rules that are required circumstances for safe station operation. Lots of neat stuff. So it was fun, though tomorrow is gonna be a little rough. I'm getting up at 4:30 to make sure I finish packing. Then heading to an early work. Then straight to the airport when I'm done to fly home for Thanksgiving.
So thats mostly whats going on. One more topic....

Remember a few weeks ago I said I was trying to figure out the whole Chabad thing and I didn't know if crazy feminist Stephanie could ever button up and sit on the "other" side. But this one in Houston is different than the one Rami took me to in Orlando. The rabbi is really nice and sat down to answer my questions and seems to actually care whether I feel comfortable with these beliefs and am gonna keep coming back. His wife too, and the kids are so sweet, so well behaved, and the whole thing.. its like having family nearby.
So lets see the list, all the things that kinda freak me out:
Separated seating. Not being counted. Not being encouraged to participate. The traditional gender roles. Reading the Torah.
So to start, separated seating. Basically for the reason you think, which is that youre there to pray not be distracted by the opposite sex and their ankles, or whatever. Hehe I think its a little ridiculous that you cant simply expect people to focus on God and not on the hot girl next to them but I guess theres no denying human nature. My bigger problem is that maybe youre training people that women are a distraction which makes them less interested in working with women like me who pop up in so called mens professions and kinda contributes to the idea that women are more pretty faces and less strong, equal minds. But again, its probably true that a person you think is attractive could be a distraction and its kinda nice that theres none of the pressure to look pretty and be attractive, and none of the conversation... people really just go, shut up, and pray. And I will never accept separate education-- because women will be and should be in the same jobs, same classes; but when you approach god there can be this special, personal way of doing things.
Not being counted-- for this you need a bit of background on Judaism. Certain prayers cannot be said except in the presence of at least 10 men, a biblically rooted ban on gathering for nefarious purposes. Kind of a way to train people to meet for good reasons, with god in mind. So ok in conservative judaism everyone who has been bar/bat mitzvah'd is counted. That means men and women. But in Chabad, only the adult males are counted. You can have 100 women, but if you only have 9 men its just not enough. So that seems a little back of the bus, doesnt it? Why arent women counted? But actually it is because women are not required, like men, to be in the presence of 10 in order to say the prayers. Women can pray alone. Now this (and we will get to this issue in a minute) is becaue women are expected to have other duties... raising children, making dinner, keeping the household that may burden their time and not allow them the time to get to the temple to pray. So they can anyways. Its not a way to exclude women, its actually kind of a way to exclude men. Or lessen their stance in front of god. One woman can approach god all by herself and say her prayers, but a man requires 9 others to do the same.
I like a little encouragement to participate. But maybe that says more about me than about the religion. When I went to the Chabad by UCF with Rami the men all lined up to pray but nobody ever paid attention to the women, tried to get them to shut up and sit down. So they all stood in the kitchen and chatted and made me feel like there was no reason for me to pray, like nobody was listening. But thats not really true, because only god needs to listen and he was so who cares about the rest of them. However, it kinda turned me off to it that there was nobody leading my service, nobody standing next to me. But at this Chabad.. well first the womens side is not adjoining the kitchen. And also, though I usually get there early and the other people (men and women) trickle in, I have only been alone once and then I just grabbed a prayer book and followed along. But also when theres talking, the rabbi's wife sits on the womens side and pipes in all kinds of comments. The divider blocks the oppposite sexes from being seen, but not from being the same congregation. It was more in the logistics and members of the UCF Chabad that made it, and not a trait of all Chabads everywhere.
Gender roles. Orthodox judaism is one of the worst perpetrators of this gender role stuff. Even the stuff I have said so far, like the not being required to pray with a group because other household stuff may get in your way... thats indicative of a system that asks women to stay home and take care of the home while men are able and in fact required to go outside the home. And yeah theres all this stuff about how women are more introspective and naturally attuned to be the center of the home and whatever. Well thats only some women, thats not all women. But there isnt actually a rule that requires the women to take care of the children (just to, for obvious reasons, give birth to them) and theres no rule that requires the women to cook. And there is also nothing that prohibits women from getting a job outside the home. The law goes like this: if you dont want to work, your husband must support you. If you do want to work, you must add your earnings to the household pool and your husband is required to feed you and clothe you, though now partially with your money. However you can decide to keep all your own earnings and support yourself, but he is then freed from his bonds to support you. Basically, in ancient times women did not have the same earning potential as men so this ensured that they would be cared for no matter how much or little they could make. And if you make alot, you are then able to keep it all if you want to support yourself that way. Which ok, so it does have an overall air of gender roles but not hard line for women to follow them. In fact I can be super manly... i am never required to have children or stay home or not have a job. I can basically be whoever I want and am not bound to conform. Men are not so lucky... they are bound by the Ketuvah (jewish marriage document still signed today in its original aramaic [the jewish equivalent of latin]) to support their wives, and have to work to do so. And they are required by god to have children, which they are required to go find a woman to do properly.
Finally... Torah. Its the jewish holy book, I hope most of you knew that, and it is read on saturday mornings as a way of studying. And this, despite getting an explanation, i still dont really approve of. Its only read by men, who are commanded to hear it, and so, according to my rabbi, the commandment can only be fulfilled if you hear it read by someone who is also commanded to hear it... another man. Part of that whole women having more things to do and may not get to temple, is that they arent commanded to hear the torah because it could get in the way of household duties. So anyways, I dont realy like this still, because I dont really get why this holds true and it does seem to be devised to keep women separate and use their child rearing duties to hold them away from something sacred. Plus, I really liked reading Torah, and I hate giving it up. And I still plan to have my daughters have the chance to have a Chabad bat mitzvah where they dont read or a less religious one where they get to do everything. So when they grow up they will also have that to go back to and get to make their own choices like I am making. And maybe they'll like a more permissive, integrated, equal group and they will know that that is as ok as the choice I made in the opposite direction.
Anyways, I went back there for Friday night dinner last week and again, its so nice. The rabbi's wife is like the nicest lady ever. She said she was having a smaller shabbat dinner since her husband was out of town which still included all her kids that are still home, and 3 guests... and 4 courses. I just, thats not little, thats a big deal. Its nice, its different.. but I really like it.
So yeah, thats whats new in my life. And its almost bedtime since I have to get up super early tomorrow.

Awesomest Halloween since mom's red slipper prank

Ok so in the pic at right you can see most of operator class 1 (I'm front row, 1st on the left) dressed as old timey apollo flight controllers (like you would see in apollo 13) for Halloween. Thats in the historic flight control room with actual consoles from back in the day. And if you look to the far right there's a door and through that door theres the dark and slightly creepy back room that used to house the AV equipment for the old timey big board. And if you walk through that room you get to a room in which station peeps run simulations. And because I am crazy awesome, this is the room where I have been taking all my command training classes and where I spend the next week taking more of them. Sometimes it is too amazing how awesome my job is. Also, because its funny, if you look to the back right you will see Mark, a fellow spartan, making a very important call to the president on the red phone. Well it would be red if this were in color. Actually I have the color version, but the black and white one is just amazing. You cant see it on me, but we all have amazing pocket protectors with little badge holders in the front.

So what else is up? It was actually a pretty good week. On Tuesday, it was Katie's bday so we went to this wine bar across the street from my apt complex and got drinks and some appetizers. Then I had my last softball game of the season at 9 and it was fun. I hope they let me play with them next season. And then on Friday we had to do presentations, which you know makes me nervous, but we were also dressed up for Halloween which made it fun and I think it went well despite my being nervous. On Friday night we went down to Rice Village and ended up at a really fun bar that played kinda 80's ish, countryish, popish, rockish music and I was driver so I only had 1 beer but it was alot of fun. Yesterday I was a bum ( I think I'm getting sick) and then today I went to the mall with Nicole and got a bunch of new sweaters and stuff to wear to work. Which is good cuz its been getting chilly so I've worn pretty much the same sweater over my work clothes all day every day which I think makes people think I dont own any clothes. Sadly, that was true, so I dropped a bunch of money on some sweaters, another pair of pants, and some more cute underwear. Also I really want a pair of boots but I just cant bring myself to spend the money. Maybe next year. I've always wanted knee high boots but I have big calves (muscle, and on top of that a nice layer of fat) which makes them either completely not fit or look odd and be uncomfortable if I can actuall get the boot on. Also I was productive enough today to wash my bed and clean out the fridge. Kinda proud of that. :-)

This week we have alot of command training classes, how to work the programs and the rules for when to use them... all for the certification to send commands to the actual international space station. I mean, we still cant use it until we get our real flight controller certification but... still pretty cool. Tuesday we start a little later but we have class until 9pm. And on Friday I have a flight to Orlando at 1:55 because its Homecoming!! I'm really bummed that classes didnt work out to get me back there in time for Spirit Splash which is my favorite UCF tradition ever. Its cold and its crazy and the water is obviously full of all sorts of stuff you dont want to think about but its also so crazy and so fun and theres rubber ducks!

A few weeks ago Rami came to visit. I planned out everything... we did a Shabbat dinner (that is a topic for a different, really long, and probably really boring entry), went to the Zoo (eh), went ice skating at the Galleria mall (yes, ice skating in the mall, it was lots of fun) and then out for a nice dinner. It was fun but now I gotta do better next time he comes, in December. The next 2 trips are mine, to Orlando next weekend and then to Plantation/Orlando for Thanksgiving.

So anyways, thats pretty much whats new these days. When I realize its already November, its just crazy. Time seems to pass quickly, I think its the absense of waiting for something. When youre at school you always are looking forward to that next break, the next semester, and to graduation. But with work, yeah I'm looking forward to the Christmas break (New Hampshire, Plantation, Disney World) and to the next time I get to see my family, Rami, and friends, and of course to getting certified (next freaking fall/winter) but its not as urgent a need to finish this semester, finish these projects, take these tests, and finally get to relax. Also, weekends are always for hanging out and sleeping in... theres no homework (they pay you to do that ;-)) Sometimes it seems to drag on, when I go a long time without getting to see Rami, getting to see my family, getting to hang with everyone that I used to hang out with all the time. But it kinda blurs and speeds up and it doesnt take long for the next important thing, next class, next weekend in FL to make it fade into the background.

Thats all for now. Love you guys!